4/30/2009

Jagr said he didn't follow the NHL closely when he was in Omsk and was not surprised to learn that Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby finished 1-3 in NHL scoring this season, reminding him of the days he and Mario Lemieux were 1-2 in scoring in the 1990s.

"Pittsburgh has always played offensive hockey. They always want to play offense and I do not think anything has changed," said Jagr. "They have always given talented guys a chance to play hockey."

As for the playoff series between Washington and Pittsburgh, he said it is great for the NHL.

"Ovechkin, Semin, Malkin and Crosby, this is great and you can see how the young guys are getting better and better. And even here, [Canada's Steve] Stamkos, [who scored twice against the Czechs]. I do not know about this guy but he is a good player and it surprised me.